Steinbach Pride to take the streets

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This article was published 28/06/2016 (2857 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Steinbach’s first-ever march for the LGBTQ community will take to the streets after all.

Steinbach Pride organizers revealed in a Facebook post late Tuesday night they have been granted street access and will no longer stick to the sidewalk.

RCMP said they would reassess their decision to relegate the July 9 march to sidewalks last Wednesday after an uproar erupted over a National Post article that detailed the police’s decision-making, which cited possible construction as a key reason Main Street could not be closed.

The new route will be brief at approximately 600 metres and will only cross Main Street at an intersection. Supporters will start walking at E.A. Friesen Park, beside the Jake Epp Library, on Elmdale Street and turn onto Reimer Avenue to proceed to Steinbach city hall. The march will start at 10:30 a.m.

“The walk will be a bit shorter, but it is really the rally at city hall that is most important,” read the Facebook post.

After the rally, the march will head back to E.A. Friesen Park.

Steinbach Pride added they have had several meetings with RCMP in recent days to discuss routes, safety and the “extensive and comprehensive security detail” the Mounties will provide.

Parking logistics will be ironed out in the coming days, the post said.

Organizer Michelle McHale told The Carillon in an interview earlier on Tuesday she anticipates more than 1,000 people to attend the march. Hundreds are expected to come from Winnipeg.

McHale said they initially pegged attendance in the couple hundred when the march was announced in May. She was happy to hear police were reconsidering their decision to deny a street permit as higher than expected attendance made a sidewalk march less practical.

The new commanding officer of the province’s RCMP, Scott Kolody, said on Monday he will march alongside the throng of supporters. Kolody added that police will provide all necessary support to ensure the event is safe.

The region’s political leaders will not be among the marchers. Provencher MP Ted Falk said attending the city’s first Pride would conflict with his “values of faith, family and community.” Steinbach mayor Chris Goertzen said he is out of town and Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen expressed he has a personal commitment to attend.

In a statement Steinbach city council said they would not endorse the march.